Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1887-10-08
THE ENCAMPAErNT
xs opens fm Due Pormas with Conn
nasnder~ansChaer Ralrchild presid-
anW

RAs ANsA1t RANtf sSpt- So Nc titSatips
ment opened in due form in the entertain
ment hall Of the exposition building at 4:30
p m. Commander-in-Ch Chief General Fair
child presided. The annual address of the
sommander-in-chief which was very long,
was presented. The general began by
sending greetings TO the people of the
Pacific coast for their hospitality
and cordial reception last year.
He sincerely congratulated the order
that they were permitted to gather in this
great metropolis, and thanked the citizens
Of St. Louis for their generous welcome.
He was pleased TO announce the evidence
of a permanent and healthy growth of the
Grand Army, and for the strong love of the
order entertained by the loyal people Of
this country. That this may continue, he
I earnestly cautioned every member that he
keep watchful guard over himself
when he acts or speaks as q member of the
| Grand Army of the republic and not un-
consciously further schemes foreign to the
/ legitimate purposes of the organization,
Article nine, forbidding the use of the or
| ganization for partisan purposes had, so far
as he knew, been strictly obeyed in letter
and spirit From Adjutant General Gray's
report he learned that the total number of
/ members borne ON the rolls of the order at
the national encampment was 1926, 499 The
number reported June 80, 1887, was 372, :
/ 6I4, an actual gain in five quarters of
| 46, 157. The increase of members in the
ninety days ending June 80, 1887, in good
| standing, was 1876. In 1880 there were
| go, 634 members. In the last five quarters
there have been mustered into the Grand
army 72, 1855. There were reported June
80, 1887, in good standing, $3.50, 500; sus-
pended, $3.50; by delinquent reports, TO-
S92. total, at last returns, borne upon
the rolls, 372, 674, an increase in
membership that must be gratifying to all
members. The amount reported expended
in charity from March, 1885, to March.
1887, inclusive, is 1858, 934. 43. This money
was disbnrsed to 1880 comrades and
their families, and $3.50 others were as
sisted, giving 26,606 individuals who had
received benefits during the year. He
had established the provisional
department of Idaho, and appointed w, III.
Nye, of Boise City, Idaho, as provisional
commander, also established the provisional
department of Arizona with Comrade A.
L. Grow, of Tombstone, Ariz., as proyis-
ional commander. During the year death
had claimed 8, 406 members He selected
for special notice John A. Logan, who in
life had manifested his love, not only in
words, but by activepublic and private effots.
The patent for the Grand army badge has
been duly transferred, aud is now the
property of the order. The council of adj
ministration has invested the $40, 600 sur
plus funds of the order in United States
bonds. Memorial day was more gen.
orally and appropriately observed this
year than ever before. Referring
to the offer of Mount McGregor.
cottage by Mr.. Drexel, General Fair
child recommend that it be referred to the
incoming commander, with authority TO &C.
cept on satisfactory arrangements. He re-
fers to the collections for the Charleston
sufferers, which were stopped before fairly
started, by notice from the mayor of
Charleston that no more aid was needed,
and expressed the belief that 800, 900 could
have been raised in G.. A. X. circles
In another month. He recommends the
appointment at once OF a competent COM
rade to file history of the organization,
and suggested that general government will
include in the next decenRIal census an
enumeration of the soldiers of the late war
of the rebellion, who may be living in
1890. Recommends that national head |
quarters be located at some central point, |
and an assistant adjutant general put |
in charge. In matters of pensions it has |
been the aim of the order to have congress
grant relief of the pressing needs OF COM
rades. The government has responded /
nObly in many instances. Influence has
been brought to bear on state legislation,
and state soldiers and orphans homes, and
laws for the temporary relief OF INDECENT
soldiers and their families, have been
passed. The Grand army, with the APP
prevail of the people in general, have
enlisted in this cause. Men of all shades
of political belief have been foremost in
these efforts, and never, until this year,
has it entered the mind of any man to
charge that this zeal in behalf of needy
comrades, was Of political or partisan
character. The Grand army will
never consent that this question
of pensions shall be classed among
those which men commonly call
partisan. 1t has been for many years dis
cussed by post, department and narional
encampments. Resolutions and addresses
have been adopted and published. Peti.
tions and appeals have been sent to COLI
gress. The efforts of the newspapers of the
country have been enlisted, and
with few exceptions they have
been in full accord with the -.ier.
There has been no change lof
opinion or change Of method in the ranks Of
the Grand army members. They have been
of one mind in, consderingit but simple JUS
tice that the United States should at least
grant a pension of not less than S12 per
month to all persons who served three
months or more in the military or naval
service of the United States during
the war of the rebellion, and AYho
have been honorably discharged and who
are now, or who may hereafter be, from
mental or physical disability, not the re-
suit oftheir own vicious habits, which in
capitates them from the performance of
manual labor. This has been publicly adj
vocated and all men who cared to know have
been fully aware of this action, and yet
until recently there has been heard no
objection to such measures. Because
others have changed their minds, the
Grand army need not therefore change
theirs. The path in this direction has been
straight. The order has diyergcd neither
10 the right nor to the left. Because COM
-ades need help, the Grand army will draw
closer and closer to them. They
hall not be inmates of common
oauper houses. nor shall their widows
Or orphans, if the Grand army can prevent
3. What is asked now in the way of
general pensions has been asked for years.
L is not demanding too much. Many
members are of the opinion that it is not
enough, fayoring broader measure of
eliet, which will embrace all who served a
ertain length of time, and can show an
discharge, commonly called the
ervice pension bill. - ,